Better Watch Out

This is going to be a different kind of book review. I could rave about this book for all the things that made it such a wonderful Christmas-time book. The Christmas movie references. New York at Christmas magic. The suspense was on point. The romantic tension between the main characters was amazing. Natalie Walters can write suspense, y’all  

But this book will forever be a favorite because at 8:00 a.m. on December 23rd, I sat next to the glittering lights of my tree with tears streaming down my face. You see, Natalie Walters didn't know it, but she wrote a representation of my life into her story. She wrote a scene that I didn't know I needed to see in a book. 

A mama and a little girl stood in a line. The little girl had purple headphones and a pink tutu. Ours are blue and that tutu is the only pink star shirt that isn't itchy. The mama had to step out of a very long line--a line that, no doubt, she had been standing in for a long time-- in order to calm her daughter down. I have stepped out of that line. The author goes on to write that the heroine calls this mama a "warrior mom," and I am crying all over again writing this line. 

I've had this book on my TBR for the last year, but just never got to it. God knew exactly when I needed to read this story. In the year of our diagnoses. In the middle of the Battle.  

Sometimes as a mama of a child with a diagnosis, I feel anything but a warrior. Each day can be a battle, but often times, I see myself waving a white flag or laying in the trenches. But Natalie. She wrote it with such grace. And guys, it was only a few paragraphs. But those few lines were enough to give me confidence that day. Enough to know that people see us as more than the mess that I feel. Enough to give my little girl a hug as we step out of the line to calm down. 

So, thank you Natalie, for writing a real story into your fictional world. I will forever be thankful for this reminder  

The Casualty of the Heart

 

"And right then, I fell off the fence I had teetered on and straight into love. With Patrick Milton of all men. What a disaster." 

Can I just begin by stating that I thoroughly enjoy the way this author writes? She has a way of telling a story that captivates my mind completely. The way she brings real life circumstances into a regency setting is beautiful. 

Now to the book...

The author weaves my favorite trope into the Season of the ton so well. The main female character has anxiety and a true dislike for crowds in a time when evening balls are on the menu almost daily. Enter the childhood rival main male character and a fake dating ruse. 

Fake Dating-in a regency book. Yes, please. And thank you. 

And to top it off, there is a mystery, twins switching places, a lost necklace, and a hilarious grand gesture.  

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! Pick it up and enjoy the banter as Clare and Patrick learn to know each other as adults and each take their own time to realize their love for each other. 

**I received a free copy of this book for reviews. All opinions and ravings are my own. 

Loyally, Luke

This book was high on my list of MUST READS in 2024, and it did NOT disappoint. 

The first two books of this series made me fall in love with the characters, and I could not wait to see what was in store for Luke. 

Luke is a man's man. He likes flannel, Rambo, hard work, and absolutely zero Hallmark vibes. In fact, don't even use the phrase "Hallmark vibes" around him. He is not interested. But underneath his gruff exterior is a teddy bear just waiting to take care of his sisters and cousin. He has a heart of gold, but his past is holding him back from any...romance. I can just imagine my 12-year-old son's reaction to that word coming out of Luke's mouth. 😝😆

Ellie has a past that she is trying to repair and overcome. Plus, she's a royal, and I adore royal stories! I could not have picked a better love interest for Luke. Pepper did an amazing job crafting their story! 

Things I enjoyed: 

I laughed out loud SO MANY times in this book. I enjoyed the way Luke helps Ellie with her bucket list. The renovations for the orphanage and how the characters interact with the kids was beautiful. Hidden Identity. Luke's protection of Ellie. The meddling shop owners. Redemption. The chime. The Hallmark references and tropes. Getting to hear from Izzy and Penelope again. All of it. I could go on and on. 

**I received a free copy of this book for reviews. All opinions and ravings are my own. 

A Royal Promise

Drew and Bri have been best friends since childhood. The only problem, Drew is in love with Bri, and she has no idea. When Drew's parents try to force him into an arranged marriage with a woman he can't stand, he brings up The Marriage Pact from their youth. 

Did I forget to mention this was a royal story with a fake engagement? 

This is a royal story with a fake ENGAGEMENT! 

I adored everything about this story. The space references. The hiking. The bracelet. Childhood friends learning new things about each other's personality. Watermelon. All the sweet gestures that Drew does for Bri. Bastian-he may have been my favorite character of the book. :) 

I enjoyed Bri's character development throughout the book and her journey to not only fall in love with her best friend but also realize her place in this world. 

I cannot recommend this book enough! This entire series has been incredible. I promise that you will enjoy A Royal Promise. 

**I received a free copy of this book for reviews. All opinions and ravings are my own. 

Resorting to Romance

"The real me loving the real you."

I think by now we all know how fake dating in a romance book ends, and I'm always here for it. But wow. Savannah Scott wrote this one to perfection. Kai is so straight-laced that fake dating is the last thing I expected from his character. "I'm a rule follower." But he also has a protective streak that cannot be denied. When Mila is faced with her past, Kai steps in to be a friend and shield. This book is filled with a "will they ever realize what everyone else already knows" vibe that was fun and captivating. Mila is a single mom and business owner and has written off dating until her son is older. Kai's love for Mila's son is quite possibly my favorite aspect of his character. He doesn't want to overstep, but he also wants Noah to have that father-figure in his life. He isn't afraid of the responsibility that comes with caring for him. It's just...love. 

And the pantry scene. I can't spoil it for you--but it's by far one of my favorite "he takes care of her" moment that I've read lately.   

The joy in this series for me is the friendships between the men of the books. Ben, Bodhi, Cameron, and Kai share a great dynamic and tell it like it is but always with a silly, over-dramatic Ben. The author weaves their lives together in a beautiful "let's do life together" community that I think everyone longs for. 

Also-there was a homeschool representation! This doesn't happen often in my reading, and it was a fun tidbit. 

This book was a "I can't put this down until I finish it" story for me. I highly recommend you pick up this series! 

**I received a free copy of this book for reviews. All opinions and ravings are my own.